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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Hands-On Preview for PC

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Hands-On Preview for PC

Prepare to Prestige

September 17, 2009 – Two holidays ago there was a deluge of excellent FPS titles being released. However, for the most part people seemed to fall into one of two categories, either siding with Halo 3 or Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Admittedly, I spent way more time playing Halo 3 than COD 4, but both definitely had great multiplayer components. Now with round two coming around in the form of Halo 3 ODST vs. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (MW2), multiplayer will once again play a large part in most gamers’ decision as to which title they’ll log hundreds of hours playing. Given what I had a chance to play at a recent MW2 event, I think that ODST might just have its hands full come November.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 screenshot

But before we were able to get our hands on the multiplayer of perhaps the most anticipated release of the year, we were treated to a brief presentation explaining some of the new things to expect from MW2. After the quick announcement of the limited edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 bundle, representatives for the game gleefully took the stage to give the first details of MW2’s multiplayer. They started by going over the new customizable kill streaks that allow yet another aspect of the game to be tailored to suit each player’s unique style. The default streaks have changed slightly with the UAV happening at three, a care package at four, and a predator missile at five.

The care package is definitely a welcomed addition that can help quite a bit when playing, especially with teams. After pulling out a flare, igniting it, and tossing it in an advantageous position, a helicopter will drop crates which will contain ammo for your weapons and sometimes even other kill streak rewards. Each kill streak reward is weighted based on its effectiveness, so the weaker streaks are more likely to appear in these crates, but it is possible to find one that could significantly change the tide of an online match. It is also possible to pillage another player’s care package, so calling for the drop is certainly a decision not to be taken lightly.

The predator missile has a similar risk/reward attached to its use. When attempting to make use of this, your on-screen character will open up his handy laptop and begin pecking at keys. This leaves you vulnerable to attack but if successful, the risk is definitely worth it. After the laptop animation you’ll be given a black and white aerial view of the map, with your enemies being surrounded by red squares so they’re easier to find. Then it’s just a matter of manually guiding the rocket towards the largest concentration of red squares you can find as it zooms towards the ground. During one match I launched a predator missile while a member of the opposing team was controlling a helicopter’s machine guns (AC-130, 11 kill streak required for use). While I was unable to make contact with the helicopter due to a speedy last second maneuver and had to settle for nailing three opponents on the ground instead, there was a red square present, implying that it was a real possibility.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 screenshot

These were just some of the default kill streaks, but it was said that there were many more that we wouldn’t be able to see yet. To make the game more approachable to new players, or those of lower skill, the game will also include death streaks. These activate if you get killed three times in a row and can provide a brief helping hand. The two I saw were painkiller (a timed health boost upon spawning), and copycat. Copycat was interesting as it allowed you to copy your killer’s class, including load out, even if they have access to things you haven’t unlocked yet. Other kill streaks and death streaks will be unlockable in the order the player chooses and can then be used to help create the class that best suits their play style.

Players are able to choose their own primary and secondary weaponry, complete with a host of new attachments, as well as equipment such as throwing knives, blast shields, tactical insertion (moveable spawn point destination), and MW2’s version of the sticky grenade: semtex. Another nifty addition to class creation comes in the form of call signs. These consist of emblems and titles that can be unlocked based on your prowess in the multiplayer and are displayed whenever you kill an opponent, allowing them to have a rough idea of just how much time you spend playing the game.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 screenshot

As far as perks go, we weren’t given a finalized list but were assured that there would be plenty of returning favorites and newcomers alike. However, perks will no longer be a permanent, unchanging bonus. Instead, depending on how much you utilize a perk it will upgrade and evolve along with the player. For example, a perk from COD4 will perform as you remember, but after it essentially levels up it will provide you with an additional bonus.

Of course, all of this is just the cherry on top of what felt like a supercharged and much more polished COD4. The controls were extremely tight, and the variety provided by all of the customizable aspects of the game guaranteed that no matter what kind of player you might be, you’d feel right at home. Even in the beta build that we had a chance to play, the graphics were intimidating, with realistic explosions and particle effects constantly distracting us from our objectives. There also appear to be a huge number of character death animations as well, because I’m not sure I saw any two players go down the same way during my play sessions.

If you weren’t already excited about MW2, there’s never been a better time to start. Infinity Ward has clearly taken a ton of time and care improving upon an already successful multiplayer formula and it shows. Take it from someone who didn’t necessarily immediately fall completely in love with COD4 when it was released two years ago: the worst part of my playtime with MW2’s multiplayer was thinking about how I had to wait another two months for the game to be released.

Game Features:

  • Includes a completely customizable multiplayer experience.
  • New perks, kill streak rewards, and weapons as well as some returning favorites.
  • Perks now evolve with use, making them even more effective.
  • Make your presence known with fully customizable call signs.

  • June 15, 2009 – If you’re reading this article (which you obviously are), it’s almost certain that you’ve seen the Modern Warfare 2 gameplay demo trailer featured at Microsoft’s media event. We were fortunate to see a lengthier demonstration behind closed doors at the Activision booth during E3 2009.

    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 screenshot

    If you’re one of the few gamers out there that hasn’t seen the demo, you’ll need to know that the level on display is that of an icy, Russian airfield located somewhere in Siberia – likely north of the Arctic Circle. Players will take on the role of an FNG named Sgt. Gary “Roach” Sanderson, following the now grizzled Capt. “Soap” MacTavish – the main player character from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. As members of Task Force 141 – an international special operations conglomeration of SAS, USMC, Rangers, CIA, and Delta Force badasses – you’re tasked with recovering vital data from a downed satellite and sabotaging the Russian Ultranationalist’s recovery efforts.

    The mission featured is that of a stealth level that placed a premium on cinematic elements. For example, the demo starts out with Roach and Soap scaling an ice-wall in order to reach the heavily fortified base. This climbing segment alone takes around 3-5 minutes to complete, and it features its own non-combat, white-knuckle moments. Also exemplifying the more cinematic approach are the frequent set-piece, mid-level story twists, i.e. getting surrounded by the Russian forces and making an improbable escape on snow mobiles (more on that later). This game will be loaded with movie-like conventions and varied environments that are made to bring players into the single-player campaign.

    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 screenshot

    As such, what’s immediately apparent from the level demonstration is that the single-player maps and the environments are heavily detailed in order to set a mood for the player. This arctic level really showed just how important a role weather effects and environmental conditions will play; players will likely find the setting within which they are battling every bit as challenging as the enemies they come up against. True also is the way players will have to strategically use the environments to their advantage. The dichotomy between the environments being both friend and foe should be an interesting gameplay element for players to negotiate.

    For instance, the snowy airfield on display is experiencing white-out, blizzard conditions. While this makes visibility difficult, it also keeps you and your partner well cloaked. Moreover, your silenced, heartbeat-sensing weaponry not only guides you swiftly to your targets, its muffled rapport is entirely silenced by the conditions, allowing Roach and Soap to finish the first half of the level in complete stealth.

    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 screenshot

    Naturally, the dozen or so dead bodies left behind are eventually discovered, and players will have to contend with a full-blown shootout and vehicle action sequence. Once the alarm has been sounded and your previously set explosive charges have gone off, players will have to work in concert with MacTavish to take out the initial, impromptu onslaught. While this seems to be fairly easily done, the next sequence really shakes things up.

    Taking out the first few waves of snow mobile operators gives MacTavish an idea, and you’ll have to make the rest of the escape on motorized sleds rather than on foot. Dashing through the snow at ultra-high speed, firing your sidearm gangsta-style, looks like a lot of fun! That being said, it could also get monotonous if the sequence were drawn out, or if riding on snow mobiles was a recurring event. Thankfully, the devs at Infinity Ward have recognized this and promise that no single element in the game will be overused. In fact, they claim to have gone to great lengths to keep the single-player experience fresh and varied throughout.

    Press as we might, Infinity Ward’s lips were sealed concerning the multiplayer options. What we do know is that players will be able to go through the campaign with a friend via co-op gameplay, and there will also be an extensive competitive online multiplayer component (duh!). What we don’t know is what kinds of modes will be available, how many players will be able to play, and what kind of ranking / character progression system will be in place.

    Though we’re loathe to report there is no official word concerning multiplayer, we were encouraged by the level of detail and polish the development team is putting into the campaign experience. From what we can gather, Modern Warfare 2’s campaign will be about as long as the original game – in other words, not particularly lengthy but enjoyable, nonetheless. Stay tuned to CheatCC in the coming months as we’re sure to get access to multiplayer Alpha and Beta play in the near future.

    Game Features:

  • A cinematic continuation of the campaign from Call of Duty: Modern warfare will provide both continuity and an unforgettable experience.
  • Single-player, co-op, and multiplayer action will push the franchise forward.
  • Intense graphics and detailed environments will keep players glued to the edge of their seats.

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